Magnetic coupled frame antennas

[dominicbeesley]

Hello,

I'm new to all this amateur radio stuff so please be gentle...

I'd like to build a frame antenna to cover the 80m amateur bands. I've found this frame antenna at http://web.telia.com/~u85920178/antennas/frameant.htm but even this is far too big for me (I need something that I can get up and down the stairs in my terraced house and into the boot of my car!)

Does anyone have advice on how I might be able to scale this down by a factor of 2 or more.

I'm hoping to be able to build something that can receive the NBTVA radiations on Saturdays.

If not any other suggestions. My house in the bottom of a steep sided valley and surrounded by other, tall, terraced houses, though I can possibly jump in the car if I get the saturday special Aldi generator this week

Thanks

Dom

[Keith]

Hi Dom,

The loop at the link you posted is designed for transmitting and so has rather more constraints than the sort of thing I think you're looking for. This site has some good general info on receiving loops:

http://www.arar93.dsl.pipex.com/mds9.../aerials1.html

As it suggests, you will need to use a few less turns than that quoted for MW use. I would advise that you just make up something of a size to suit you and then experiment. If you use a reasonably large tuning capacitor (say one section of broadcast tuning gang) to start with, it will make it easier to find resonance on the 80m. You'll know when you're there as these things are generally quite high Q and you'll get a sharp peak in signal level as you tune through it. Loops are also good for nulling out interfering signals and are generally better at rejecting noise from switched mode PSU's with which we are all plagued these days. Have a go - I think you'll be pleasantly surprised!

[dominicbeesley]

Thanks, that's a very helpful website, though I got carried away and have now decided to buy a scanner, not sure what the missus will say when she finds out....

Cheers

Dom